One of the biggest road closures affecting drivers around Wells is finally due to ease this weekend – although there is still plenty of disruption to contend with across the Mendip area.

The A371 at Draycott is scheduled to reopen to through traffic on Monday, 28 September after almost four weeks of closure for gas main works.

Temporary traffic lights will remain in place until 11 October, while drivers also face continuing works at Croscombe, Whitnell Corner, Street and Meare.

Here is the picture from Tuesday, 22 September to Tuesday, 29 September.

A371 at Draycott due to reopen

The full closure of the A371 at Draycott is scheduled to remain in place until Sunday, 27 September while Wales & West Utilities continues its gas main replacement programme.

The road has been closed since 1 September, disrupting the main route between Wells and Cheddar and forcing motorists onto alternative routes.

Somerset Council introduced shuttle buses during the closure, while the 126 bus between Wells and Weston-super-Mare has been diverted through Wedmore.

From Monday, 28 September, the A371 is due to reopen to through traffic.

That will not be the end of the works, however. Temporary traffic lights are scheduled to remain on the road until 11 October while the scheme continues.

The 126 is expected to return to its normal route once the full closure ends.

Temporary lights continue at Croscombe

Drivers using the A371 between Wells and Shepton Mallet should also continue to allow extra time at Croscombe.

Temporary two-way lights remain in place while Somerset Council repairs a stone boundary wall between the road and the River Sheppey which was damaged in a collision.

The work began on 7 September and was expected to take around three weeks.

The lights are manually operated between 7 am and 6.30 pm in an effort to keep queues moving.

The road remains open throughout the work.

Whitnell Corner still completely closed

There is still no through route at Whitnell Corner, near West Horrington, where major construction work is taking place.

The B3135/B3139 junction is closed around the clock while Somerset Council and contractor Octavius replace the former crossroads with a roundabout.

The £4 million road safety scheme is due to be completed later this year.

Drivers travelling between Wells, Binegar and the A37 must continue to use signed diversion routes.

The closure is also affecting the 173 Wells to Bath bus.

The service is currently diverted from Wells along the A371 through Croscombe and Shepton Mallet before joining the A37 at Gurney Slade.

The 173 cannot serve stops at South Horrington, West Horrington or Binegar while the closure remains in force, although a minibus shuttle is operating for some affected communities.

New restrictions in Street

A new temporary traffic order affecting Keen's Elm Lane in Street comes into force on Tuesday, 22 September.

The council's current traffic regulation order register lists the temporary measures under a 21-day notice, with drivers advised to follow signs and traffic management in place on the road.

A further temporary notice covering Keen's Elm Lane is already scheduled to begin on 7 October.

Elsewhere in Street, temporary traffic lights remain on the B3151 Somerton Road as work continues on access to a housing development.

The earlier full closure ended on 9 September, with temporary lights scheduled to stay in place until 19 October.

The road is then due to close again from 20 October until 3 November.

Glastonbury Road at Meare remains closed

Drivers travelling between Glastonbury and Meare should continue to expect disruption this week.

The current closure on Glastonbury Road began on 15 September and is scheduled to remain in place until Wednesday, 30 September.

The affected section is on the Glastonbury side of Meare, close to Back River Drove.

A signed alternative route is in operation for the duration of the closure.

Kent closure continues in Shepton Mallet

Kent in Shepton Mallet also remains closed while Wales & West Utilities carries out gas main replacement work.

The current programme is expected to continue into early October.

The restriction affects the short road between West Shepton and properties on Kent rather than one of the town's main through routes.

Drivers requiring local access should follow signs in place around the works.

New speed limits are proposals – not roadworks

Drivers may also have noticed fresh traffic notices covering roads around Wells and Shepton Mallet.

These relate to proposals for new 40 mph speed limits, with consultation running from 16 September until 7 October.

They are proposed traffic restrictions rather than active roadworks, so do not create additional closures or delays this week.

Short-duration utility works can change at relatively short notice, so motorists travelling further afield should check Somerset Council's highways information before setting off.

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